Rotary fuel distributor valve



NW" 12,, 1957 .1. ZUBATY 2,812,753

ROTARY FUEL DISTRIBUTOR VALVE Filed NOV. 19, 1956 ATTDRNEX nited States Patent ROTARY FUEL DISTRIBUTOR VALVE Joseph Zubaty, Flint, Mich., assignor to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich, a corporation of Delaware The present device relates to a rotary fuel distributor valve of a unique design which permits timed injection at low engine speeds while providing continuous injection at high engine speeds.

In engines utilizing fuel injection systems it has long been desirable to have a fuel distributing system which provides the continuous distribution of fuel either to the cylinder or to the inlet manifold at high engine speeds. However, the disadvantage of such a system was provid ing the requisite amounts of fuel to the engine at low speeds. Using a continuous discharge system which would provide the proper amounts of fuel during low engine speed operation, it is necessary to use very small nozzle holes which results in exceedingly high pressures at high speeds and loads. Accordingly, up to the present time, the choice has been between timed injection with good low speed operating characteristics or continuous injection with good high speed operating characteristics. In the present fuel distributing mechanism, however, a design has been realized in which the advantages of both timed and continuous injection can be combinedin a single mechanism.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a sectioned elevational view of a preferred form of the invention; and

Figure 2 is a plan view with the cover removed.

Referring to the drawing, a rotary fuel distributing mechanism is shown generally at and includes an open ended casing 12 fixed in any suitable manner against rotation upon the engine. A cover '14 is adapted to removablyclose the open end 16 ofjcasing12. Disposed within casing 12 is a distributor member 18 adapted to be rotated at a speed proportional to'engine. speed; The rotary distributor member 18 is connected through a shaft 20 to a rotating part of the engine such. as the cam shaft in order that member 18 be driven at engine speed.

The casing 12 and the rotatable member 18 have conically formed surfaces22 and 24 which are adapted to normally be in rotatably sliding contactwith each other. The sliding contact of these conical surfaces is maintained through a spring member 26 which seats against the interior of cover 14 and biases the rotatable head surface 22 against the conical seat 24 of the casing. 3

Rotatable member 18 includes a shank portion 3-0 which extends within a bore 32 in casing 12 and is radially spaced therefrom to provide an annular fuel chamber 34. Shank 30 includes radial passages 36 which communicate at one end with. chamber34 and at the inner end with a longitudinally extending passag'e38.

Passage 3% terminates in a radially extending portion 40,

the other end of which terminates inthe conical face 22 of rotatable mern'b'er'18l Kplurality of radial passages 42 are formed in casing 12 in the same plane as radial passage 33 in member 18. Passage 38 is adapted to sequentially register with said passages 42 as the member 18 rotates about its axis. Radial passages 42 in housing 12 in turn communicate with conduits 44 which lead to the respective cylinders or intake passages of the engine for delivering fuel thereto.

As best seen in Figure 2, the outer end of passage 40 is disposed in a radially projecting portion 41 of member 18 while the remainder of the periphery of the member is diametrically reduced so as to define an annular chamber 43 with open end 16 of casing 12. Thus, except when covered by portion 41, passages 42 are in constant communication with annular chamber 43. In this way the sliding resistance between conical surfaces 22 and 24 is reduced and the passage 42 are open to fuel flow more quickly when the member 18 moves off its seat as will be. subsequently described.

Fixed casing 12 includes another radial passage 5'0 which communicates with fuel chamber 34 and is adapted to supply fuel under pressure thereto. Shaft 20. is mounted in a sleeve bearing 52, casing 12 and an O-ring type seal 54 is provided to prevent the leakage of fuel between the shaft and bearing.

Thus, fuel under a pressure, which is proportional to the speed of engine operation, is supplied to passage where it enters chamber 34 flowing through passages 36, 38 and 40 whereby a fuel charge is sequentially distributed to the respective radial passages 42 in a timed relation determined by the speed of rotation of shaft 20 reflecting the speed and hence engine requirements of the engine.

In order to minimize the resistance of spring 26 to the rotation of member 18, the spring has a depressed central portion 58 which supports a ball bearing member 60 which is in turn seated within a cavity 62 formed in cover 14.

It is also to be noted at this point that the rotatable member 18 is connected to engine driven shaft 20 through a lost motion connection which permits relative axial movement between the member and the shaft. This connection includes a stud portion 66 formed on shaft 20 which is adapted to project within a corresponding bore 68 in member 18. It is apparent that the cross-sectional configuration of the projection 66 and bore 68 must be such as to prevent relative rotation therebetween, e. g., rectangular, while at the same time permitting relative axial movement for a purpose now to be described.

As the engine progresses to high speed operation the pressure of the fuel entering inlet passage 50 progressively increases until it reaches a value where it begins to move the rotatable member surface 22 axially off its seat 24 1' take place.

against the force of spring 26. When this occurs fuel begins to bypass the timed injection distributing passages 36, 38 and 4t and flow between the conical faces 22 and 24 to provide a continuous flow of fuel to the respective passages 42. p i

. During the transition from low to high speed operation the flow of fuel to the distributing passages 42 will be divided between the passages 36, 38 and 40 and the conical faces 22 and 24. However, asthe engine reaches a given high speed operation, fluid pressure will lift memberlS sufficiently off its seat to cause the member to abut the depressed portion 58 of spring 26 at which point all fuel flow will be between the conical faces 22 and 24 and.

thus continuous injection offuel to the passages 42 will I claim:

I l. A fuel distributing valve mechanism foran internal combustion engine comprising a casing, said casing having a, plurality of fuel outlet passages communicating with. the inner surface of said casing, a'mex'nber disposed Patented N 0v. 12, -1957.

3 7 under pressure proportional to engine speed, means communicating said source with said member whereby fuel is sequentially distributed to the outlet passage in proportion to ng ne peed, and means p rmitt ng fue t byp ss said member for the continuous flow of fuel to the outlet pa g s en fue press re x eeds a en va ue- 2- A e d tribut n val e rneehan srn r n internal usti n n ne compri ing a asin fixed a n t rota n, i a i g hav n a p u a i y of uel o t et passa es communicating with the inner surface of said casing, a rotatable member disposed within said casing and rotatly supp te o e inner sur ac o d cas ng, spring an ing s id ro atab e n tnber a a y n o ngagement h th vinner sur ae o sa d e sing, a p ssa e orm d thin s id otatab m mbe an p ed t sequentially register with the outlet passages in said casing as a d mem r rot tes abou its ax s, p ag means pr ing a oont nnons supply o fuel t t e passa e i said atab e me r, h t opera ly oonn e d to id ata e netnbe o d iy n sa d m m er a a pe p p t on to en ine sp d, and n pe t ve connection between said rotatable member and said shaft ea e g s h a to pe mi s id mem er to move axially relative to said shaft means, fuel under pressure bein sufficient during, h sp ed engin ope n to move said rotatable member out of engagement with the inner a e of s d as n he y fue wi l e bypa s d around the distributing passage in said member permitting the continuous flow of fuel to the outlet passages.

3. A fuel distributing valve mechanism for an internal combustion engine comprising a casing fixed against rotation, said casing having a plurality of radially disposed fuel outlet passages communicating with the inner surface of said casing, a rotatable member disposed within said casing and rotatably supported on the inner surface of said casing, spring means biasing said rotatable member axially into engagement with the inner surfaces of said casing, a radial passage formed within said rotatable member and adapted to sequentially register with the radial outlet p a in. a d casi s id m mber rotates about its axis, passage means providing a continuous supply of fuel to the radial passage in said rotatable member, shaft means operatively connected to said rotatable member for driving said member at a speed p p ional o e g e spee nd a s mod m nne ion tw e sa d o ata le member and s id sh t me permittin s d member o mo e axia y on y relat to ai shaft mea s fuel under pressure be ng uf icient du h h pe d engin operation o m ve aid ot table o or ou o n agemen i t e inner surf e of said asing whereby f el' i l e bypas e round th ra ia istr but n p ssage n sa d mem r p r t n the nnons o of fu l to the rad al ou l p s ges.

4. A fuel distributing valve mechanism for an internal combustion engine comprising a casing fixed against rotation, said casing having a plurality of radially disposed fuel outlet passages communicating with the inner surface of said casing, a rotatable member disposed within said casing and rotatably supported on the inner surface of said casing, the rotatably cooperating faces of said casing and said member being of conical cross-section spring m ans bi sin e oon oal fa o sai ro e mbe axially into engagement with the conical inner surface of said casing, a radial passage formed within said rotatable member and adapted to sequentially register with the adial le p ss ge in a d c sing as said memb r rotates about its axis, passage means providing a connuo s. supp y of fue o he radial, pa s ge i said rotatable member, shaft means operatively connected to said rotatable member for driving said member at a speed proportional to engine speed, and an operative connection between said rotatable member and said shaft means permitting said member to move axially relative to said shaft means, fuel under pressure being suflicient during high speed engine operation to move the conical face of said rotatable member out of engagement with the conical inner surface of said casing whereby fuel will be bypassed between said conical surfaces and around the radial distributing passage in said member permitting the continuous flow of fuel to the radial outlet passages.

5. A fuel distributing valve mechanism for an internal a combustion engine comprising a casing fixed against rotation, said casing having a plurality of radially disposed fuel outlet passages communicating with the inner surface of said casing, a rotatable member disposed within said casing and rotatably supported on the inner surface of said casing, the otatab y pe ating f s of said cas and s d member being of conica o e i n, spr mean di posed in rmediate sai a ng and s i member for biasing the conical face of said rotatable member ax a y into engagement with he conical inner surface of said casing a radial passage formed within said rotatable member and adapted to sequentially register with the radial outlet passages in said casin as said member ates a ou its axis, passage means providing a continuous supply of fuel to the rad al passage in said rotatable member, shaft means operatively connected to said rotata'ble member for driving said member at a speed proportional' to engine speed, a lost motion connection between said rotatable member and said shaft means permitting said member to move axial y nly relative to said shaft m ans, fuel under pressure b ing sufficient during high speed engine operation to move the conical face of said rotatable member out of engagement with the conical inner surface of said casing whereby fuel will be bypassed between said conical surfaces and around the radial distributing passage in said member permitting the continuous flow of fuel to the radial outlet passages, and a bearing member intermediate said spring and Said casing.

6 A fu l. distribu ing mechanism for n in rn l cornbustion engine comprising a casing, a plurality of fuel outlet ports in said casing, a rotary fuel distributor member n S id easing, a some? of fuel under pressure communicating with said. distributor, means for rotating said disributor at a speed prop rti n to eng p ed for quen ially deliverin fuel o id. por s, and m ns ive to en ine sp ed o causing aid distributor to on inuously pply fue to said p r s wh n id speed e ee ds a given value.

A fue di tr buting mechanism for n in rn l c mustion engine. c mprising a c sing a plurality of fuel outlet ports in said casing, a source of fuel under pressure communicating with said casing, a fuel distributor member in said casing for delivering a timed quantity of fuel to each port, and means responsive to engine speed for bypassing fuel around said distributor to provide a continuous, flow of fuel to said ports when engine speed exceeds a given value.

8. A fuel distributing mechanism for an internal combustion engine comprising a, source of fuel under pressure, a distributor member for sequentially supplying fuel to the individual engine cylinders in accordance with enine spe d, and me ns r pon i t engine speed f r y p ss n fuel ar und sai distr b r to pr vid a continuous flow of fue to said Ports when engine speed exo s a given value.

No refer n ci e 

